Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji

The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji, Nigeria, about 35 km northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. It is currently headed by Air Vice Marshal SA Dambo who was appointed commandant in September 2015. He takes over from Air Vice Marshal John Chris Ifemeje who retires after 35 years of meritorious service.

History

The Army Command and Staff College opened at Jaji in May 1976, giving two senior officers' courses. In April 1978 the College was expanded when the Army Junior Division was established to conduct courses for Captains in the Nigerian Army. A Demonstration Battalion, the Army School of Artillery, and armor support from a composite armored battalion in Kaduna were also located at Jaji. In September 1978, with the opening of the air faculty, Jaji was redesignated the Command and Staff College. The navy faculty was established in September 1981, assembling all senior military divisions in one campus. By 1986, 1,172 officers had graduated from Jaji's senior divisions, and 1,320 from the junior divisions.

The original senior officers' courses were based on a curriculum derived from that of the British Army Staff College, Camberley, and the college establishment was assisted by an advisory team from the British Army. The successor to the advisory team, the Joint Warfare Advisory Team, remained until October 1988.

In September 2005, United Kingdom Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram visited Jaji and announced that an extra 200,000 UK pounds would be allocated to assist training of over 17,000 Nigerian troops as peacekeepers in Africa. In November 2006, the Prince of Wales of the United Kingdom visited Nigeria and inspected soldiers at Jaji.

Courses and facilities

The Land, Maritime and Air Warfare Departments of the College run three Courses: a one-year Senior Course for Majors and their equivalent, a twenty-week Junior Course for Captains and their equivalent, and a Staff Duties Course for Senior Non Commissioned Officers of the three services.

Notable Staff

• Abdulmumini Aminu, governor of Borno State
• Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff
• Dan Archibong, former military governor of Cross River State
• Dele Joseph Ezeoba, former Chief of Naval Staff
• Emmanuel Acholonu, later administrator of Katsina State
• Gideon Orkar, leader of the April 1990 coup
• John Mark Inienger, commander of ECOMOG in Liberia
• John Nanzip Shagaya, later a Senator
• Joshua Anaja, former military governor of Plateau State
• Martin Luther Agwai, Chief of Army Staff
• Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff
• Sani Bello, governor of Kano State
• Suraj Abdurrahman, Command Officer in Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia
• Alwali Kazir, Chief of Army Staff

Notable alumni

• Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff
• Ibrahim Babangida, later military ruler of Nigeria
• Owoye Andrew Azazi, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff
• Emmanuel Ukaegbu, later military Administrator of Anambra State
• Jonah Wuyep, later chief of the Air Staff
• Femi John Femi, later chief of Air Staff
• Olagunsoye Oyinlola, governor of Osun State
• Paul Obi, administrator of Bayelsa State
• Abubakar Tanko Ayuba, governor of Kaduna State and later Senator
• Dominic Oneya, administrator of Kano State and Benue State
• Amadi Ikwechegh, governor of Imo State
• Tunji Olurin, governor of Oyo State, administrator of Ekiti State
• Lawan Gwadabe, governor of Niger State